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Two Tier Air Conditioned Class, known as 2A, attracts India’s upper class travelers. There’s much more space, as there are only four beds in each compartment. The beds are stacked vertically in two tiers on either side. Just like in the other classes, there are also two tiers of beds along the aisle outside the compartments. Bedding and towels are also provided, the same as in 3A,

The best thing about 2A is the added benefit of privacy curtains on the entrance to each compartment, as well as across each of the beds that run along the aisle. The curtains are usually always kept drawn and this class of accommodation is quite devoid of any interaction,

AC2 provides seats by day, convertible to bunks at night. AC2 coaches are not divided into separate compartments, but are open-plan, with berths arranged in bays of four (two upper, two lower) on one side of the aisle, and in bays of two along the coach side above and below the windows on the other side of the aisle. Each bay is curtained off for privacy, and an attendant distributes pillows, sheets and blankets in the evening. AC2 is found on almost all decent long-distance trains, and it is the way the Indian middle classes travel. It's relatively clean and uncrowded, and a good choice for most visitors to India. Berth numbering system, AC1, AC2, AC3, Sleeper Class cars,

Right: A bay of 4 berths in an AC2 sleeper. The seat back folds down to form the bottom bunk,

Far right: The aisle in AC2. Bays of four are to the right, bays of two on the left.